Tuesday, December 30, 2014

World News Briefs -- December 30, 2014



At Least 40 Bodies Recovered in Search for Missing AirAsia Jet -- Voice of America

Indonesian officials have recovered at least 40 bodies from the sea near the wreckage of an AirAsia passenger jet that crashed during a storm Sunday.

Local television Tuesday showed rescue helicopters pulling bodies from the Java Sea, about 160 kilometers off the coast of Borneo Island.

Families of some of the 162 people on board AirAsia Flight 8501 burst into tears and hugged one another after seeing the images of the floating bodies, which were not wearing life jackets, and wreckage.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

U.S.-led coalition air strikes hit Islamic State in Syria, Iraq.

Islamic State group claims suicide attack in Iraq. ISIS claims car bomb targeting Syria gas plant.

Residents of eastern Syria create popular resistance group to battle IS.

US does not back UN Palestinian statehood resolution.

Iran says nuclear talks set for Jan 15, vows to stand firm.

U.S. names more Iran targets for sanctions.

UN, EU concerned at arrest of top Bahrain Shiite leader.

ASIA

Wreckage, bodies reveal jet's fate days after it disappeared.

North Korea may have hired outside hackers for Sony attack, says US.

U.S. failed to track spending on aid for Afghan women, auditor finds.

Afghans decry economic and security woes.

Pakistan re-arrests suspected mastermind of Mumbai attacks.

Deadly storm hits Philippines.

Bangladesh sentences Islamist leader to death.

AFRICA

Al Shabaab leader killed in U.S. air strike in Mogadishu. US strike in Somalia 'killed al-Shabab intelligence chief'.

Libya: Car bomb explodes near parliament in city of Tobruk, three wounded.

Libya FM: Extremists seek to capture oil resources. Fire at Libyan oil port destroys up to 1.8 million barrels of crude.

UN support mission to Libya warns of full-fledged war in country.

Gunfire hits Gambian capital. Firing reported at Gambia presidential palace.

Boko Haram kills 15 in northeast Nigerian town: witnesses.

South Sudan rebels accuse army of killing civilians.

EUROPE

'US military hardware will cause more bloodshed in Ukraine' – Russian senator.

More than half of Ukrainians dislike drift towards NATO — Yushchenko.

Russia says new U.S. sanctions may hamper dialogue on Iran, Syria.

Russia's economy begins shrinking.

Top Russian opposition figure Navalny guilty of embezzlement, gets 3.5yrs suspended. Alexei Navalny sentenced: thousands expected to protest against ruling. Navalny says Putin's regime must be destroyed.

Aleksei Navalny, Putin critic, is arrested at rally after suspended sentence in fraud case. Thousands of people protest near the Kremlin.

Backlash in Berlin over NSA spying recedes as threat from Islamic State rises.

German opposition urges probe into NATO 'hit list'.

New law spells end for many small Spanish businesses.

Suspected migrant ship heads to Italy. 'Migrant ship' heads for Italy after distress call scare.

U.S. to station 150 armored vehicles in Europe.

AMERICAS

President Obama focused on ‘long-term’ projects in final two years.

Some Cubans anxious about renewed US diplomatic relations.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner fractured ankle may be something else.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio to meet with leaders of five NYPD unions.

US federal government lost $9.26B on auto rescue.

U.S. on verge of a flu epidemic.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Islamic State to systematically target Europe in 2015: French expert.

U.S. military bombs senior leader of al-Shabab terrorist group in Somalia.

Islamic State uses US-made anti-tank missile near Damascus.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Oil continues decline on supply glut despite weaker dollar.

Google to blame for Gmail shutdown, say Chinese state media.

World’s 400 richest add $92 billion in 2014 as Alibaba jumps.

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